Emily May Smith, 93, of Poplar Bluff, MO, formerly of Rothville and Brookfield, MO passed away Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Westwood Hills Nursing Center in Poplar Bluff. Emily Manlove was born on October 25, 1919 in Chariton County, MO, to Walter and Ollie Manlove. She married Carl Jr. Thiele on May 25, 1941 and he preceded her in death on Feb. 2, 1953. She married Quentin Smith, May 23, 1959 and he survives.

She attended school at Rothville and graduated from Rothville High School in 1938 as valedictorian. She attended Kirksville State Teachers College that fall and left college in 1940 to teach at a one-room school near Mexico, MO. She taught schools at North Salem, Rothville, Martin City, Ruskin Heights, all in Missouri, and at Warren Walker, a private school, in San Diego, CA. She graduated from Northeast State Teachers College in 1960 with an education degree. She also worked at the Bank of Rothville as a teller and as a proofreader for Walsworth Printing Company in Marceline. In 1972 Emily started oil painting as a hobby. In 20 years she painted more than 300 paintings. Her painting “The Home Place” won first place in district competition and third place at the Missouri State Fair. She was an excellent cook and produced her own cookbook. She researched and prepared several genealogy books. In 1975 she organized the Rothville Alumni Association and served as its president for two terms and vice president for several years. She wrote most of the book, A History of Rothville. She was a member of Prairie Mound Club, Swan Lake Extension Club, the Rothville Cemetery Association, the Mendon Senior Citizens Club, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She worked as a judge at many elections and was a campaign worker for the late Congressman Jerry Litton. She loved music and taught herself to play the piano and organ. She and Quentin took numerous trips that included two to England. She was a member of the Church of Christ at several locations, including the Purdin Church of Christ where she was a Sunday School teacher for 15 years. She enjoyed reading, movies, gardening and feeding birds. In one of her many memoirs she wrote, “I have always been a busy person.”

She is survived by her husband Quentin, of the home, a son, Lonny Thiele and wife Pauline of Poplar Bluff; a daughter, Carolyn Henry and husband John of Yakima, WA; a daughter-in-law Shirley Thiele of Raymore, MO; a nephew Bob Manlove and wife Shirley of Kansas City; a niece Wanda Phinney and husband Charles of Santa Fe, Texas; nine grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren, and numerous other relatives and friends. She was also preceded in death by a son, Gary Thiele, and two brothers, Floyd Manlove and Eugene Manlove.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, February 28, 2013 at Delaney Funeral Home in Marceline with Vernon Curry, Minister at Highland Drive Church of Christ in Poplar Bluff officiating. Burial will be in the Rothville Cemetery, Rothville. Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. Thursday until time of services at the funeral home.